But they were on one of the main thoroughfares by that point, and Jack was preoccupied with the heavier traffic, or at leasthe pretended to be. Having seen him drive this far, however, she doubted even this was much test of his skill. And once they emerged on the quieter road toward the park, it became clear he’d had some leisure to look around him. From the appalled look he now gave her, he’d clearly noted the people they passed.
“Just how many people has Miss Sedgewick introduced you to, Min? Half the men in London are waving at you.”
She was scarcely less appalled. She felt luminous as a mushroom, as exposed as some poor wretch in a tumbril, dragged through the streets for all to judge. But she gripped the upholstered seat at her sides, refusing to show it. “We met quite a number of her acquaintances in the park. But perhaps they are waving at you. You are popular, are you not?”
“Oh, hugely,” he said with the lift of a brow. “But it’s usually the other half of the human race trying to catch my eye.”
Lucy blushed because, as aware as she’d been of the many gentleman nodding and smiling as she passed, she’d also been aware of the women in their company, and the way many of them cast lingering looks at Jack.
The attention they attracted continued until they were beyond the fashionable streets, Jack settling into silent irritation, his scowl deepening at every new person who looked their way. When they turned through the gates into Hyde Park and yet another man smiled, heading to approach their vehicle, Jack swore under his breath and set the horses at a furious pace until they were alone on the distant side of the vast space.
“It’s worse than I thought, Min,” he said, finally pulling the horses to a walk. “There’s only one thing for it. We’ll have to get married.”
Fourteen
Min gasped.
“Don’t look so horrified.”
She was staring at him like he’d just stabbed her. And, fair enough, he hadn’t exactly meant to say the words himself. He went to drag his hand through his hair, encountered his hat, and half knocked it off before swiping it down to his knee.
“I don’t mean actuallymarried.But we could be engaged for a bit. Think about it.”
It was Warde he kept seeing. That slimy, sly look he’d given her.Friendshiphadn’t seemed a strong enough protection. But no one would dare touch hiswife, would they? And besides, Min getting married would mean her money was no longer there to tempt anyone. It was all quite logical really.
“If people think we’re engaged, it’ll keep the worst of the wolves at bay.”
She was very white.
“Why…?” she tried. Stopped. Let out a shaky breath. “Whatever are you talking about?”
Ah yes. She probably didn’t even know about this rumour of her wealth yet. He tried to find a delicate way into the topic before deciding ruefully that horse had already bolted. “You’re an heiress, Min. Or so most of London believes. Apparently your aunt is on her deathbed, and she’s left the whole of her fortune to you.”
“Agatha is dying?” she whispered, appalled.
“No!” he said quickly. God damn. There were bolting horses everywhere. “It’s all a hum. Or so I believe. You said she was well, didn’t you?”
“In her last letter, yes, but I received that two days ago. What if… She might… Oh, I must write at once!”
“No, no. Be easy, Min.” He tried to lay a comforting hand on hers, but she pulled it back, instinctive as a horse twitching off a fly. Inside, he found a bit of time to frown about that even as he did his earnest best to reassure her. “It’s nothing but talk and conjecture. All these rich old folks are always dying in everyone’s imagination. It’s the glimmer of gold. Disorders the senses.” He waved a hand in a gesture reminiscent of a stage magician, but Min didn’t look any less stricken. “Ignore the bit about her dying. The crux of the matter is that everyonebelievesyou’re an heiress. A very considerable one. And now every fortune hunter in town is going to be angling for you, laying their snares and traps. It’s a horrible business, believe me. I’ve been through it all with George, and it’s been hard enough to keep him safe, even with him being a man and able to look after himself, more or less. But with you…” He trailed off. Now she was looking at him like he’d lost his wits.
“I’m no heiress!”
The horses were walking slowly, their earlier fidgets trotted out of them. He was at liberty to study her properly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes!”
Her eyes were wide, her face flushed, her lips parted in indignation. There were probably men who might be tempted by her whether she had money or not.
“Well.” He took in the reins and collected his horses, suddenly hating all his fellow men. “It makes little difference, given everyone thinks you are.”
“Nodifference?For everyone to think I have come to London to…to deceive them and puff myself up and play such an outrageous trick! I suppose you will say it makes no difference when the truth is discovered and I am the laughingstock of the whole town!”
“But it isn’t you who said it.”
“They won’t remember that!”
